Tories vent fury at senior MP for blocking upskirting law

THERESA MAY has expressed her disappointment after a senior Tory MP blocked a plan to criminalise the taking of upskirt photographs.

Sir Christopher Chope faced cries of “shame!” and was condemned by ministers and fellow backbenchers as a “dinosaur” after his intervention. The move dealt a blow to campaigners and prompted fury among Conservative colleagues, who demanded he apologise.

The Christchurch MP objected to the passage of the Voyeurism (Offences) Bill, which would make it illegal for offenders to take a picture under someone’s clothing without their consent.

The Prime Minister pledged to press ahead with the Bill. Last night she said: “Upskirting is an invasion of privacy which leaves victims feeling degraded and distressed. I am disappointed the Bill didn’t make progress in the Commons today, and I want to see these measures pass through Parliament – with government support – soon.”

The Government supported the Bill but Sir Christopher, who has previously blocked giving carers free hospital parking, opposed laws to ban wild animals in circuses and raised an eleventh-hour objection to a debate on Hillsborough taking place, used an arcane parliamentary procedure to delay the draft legislation.

Tory MPS erupted with anger over the move as ministers insisted Sir Christopher’s actions would not stop the change in the law from happening.

Tobias Ellwood, a defence minister, was one of a number of Tories to call for an apology. He said: “Many will be rightly shocked and offended that such dinosaur opinions are aired in Parliament in 2018. If we are serious about winning the next election, we must have the courage to immediately and publicly criticise such crass and archaic views that damage both our party and Parliament.”

Tom Tugendhat, the Conservative chairman of the foreign affairs select committee, also called for an apology as he said blocking the Bill was “shaming”. Conor Burns, a Tory MP, described Sir Christopher’s behaviour as embarrassing. “I share a constituency boundary with him,” he said. “But clearly not a century.”

Campaigners, including upskirting victim Gina Martin, 26, were hoping the Government’s support would secure the Bill’s progress. Sir Christopher’s decision to delay the Bill means it will have to return for another Friday private members’ bill session, on July 6, if it is to have any hope of becoming law this parliamentary term.

Victoria Atkins, the Home Office minister and minister for women, and Will Quince, the Tory MP, were among those in the Commons who said “shame!” when the Bill was blocked.

In a statement, Ms Martin said she had spoken to Sir Christopher, who agreed to discuss the Bill with her. She said she was “upset and disappointed that Sir [Christopher] Chope decided to object on this vitally important Bill for the women of England and Wales.”

Ms Martin told the BBC that Sir Christopher had told her he had objected to the Bill “on principle” because it had not been debated. She also claimed that the Tory had said he “wasn’t really sure” what upskirting was.

Sir Christopher did not respond to a request for comment.